Who's talking about the September collapse now? The Mets reached a deal with the Twins Tuesday to acquire two-time Cy Young Award winner Johan Santana, after the Yankees and Red Sox essentially backed out.

The Mets have a 72-hour window to sign Santana to an extension, since the lefthander has no-trade protection as he approaches what otherwise would be free agency next winter. That contract dialogue began last night.

Willie Randolph was giddy Tuesday after receiving the news that the Mets had landed Santana, but team officials declined to comment until they reach an agreement with the hurler.

"I'm told I have to act like Mr. Met," chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon said upon arriving at last night's Baseball Assistance Team dinner, referring to the team's silent mascot.

Said GM Omar Minaya: "The bottom line is we're trying to look for ways to improve our club. That's all I'm going to be able to say right now."

Coming to terms on a new contract - which could net Santana in the $21 million-$22 million-a-year range for six to seven years - ultimately shouldn't be an impediment. Mets officials are feeling intense pressure to sign Santana now that the agreement with the Twins has become public. Mets brass also enjoys a solid working relationship with Santana's agents, Peter and Ed Greenberg, who represent Jose Reyes and Endy Chavez. Santana is owed $13.25 million this season.

The Twins opted to shift into overdrive yesterday in attempting to deal Santana after the ace told the organization he wanted to be moved quickly. Santana, who has a home in Fort Myers, Fla., apparently was pushing to get a deal done before he heads to Venezuela for the two weeks before spring training.

The Mets, to a large extent, were able to land their top-of-the-rotation starter by default. Minnesota officials contacted the Mets, Yankees and Red Sox yesterday morning and requested each team's best offer. The Yankees were unwilling to include Phil Hughes and essentially passed, while the Red Sox's recent interest had been tepid as well, with both clubs preferring to retain their elite prospects, especially given the financial commitment needed for Santana to approve the trade. Boston, which at one point had separate offers out to Minnesota headlined by outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury and pitcher Jon Lester, were no longer willing to part with Ellsbury yesterday. They later yanked the Lester-led offer, too, leaving the Mets as the lone legitimate suitor.

According to sources familiar with the entire negotiations, after the Red Sox removed Lester, the Twins called the Yankees back and proposed a scenario in which Hughes would not have to be part of the deal. Instead, they asked for Chien-Ming Wang and Ian Kennedy. The Yankees flatly rejected that, leaving the Mets as the Twins' only alternative.

The Mets had an understanding with the Twins a week ago that 19-year-old outfield prodigy Fernando Martinez would not be included in any deal. Minnesota wasn't opposed to obtaining Gomez instead of Martinez, since the Twins project Martinez more as a corner outfielder than as a center fielder.

Santana, who turns 29 on March 13, went 15-13 with a 3.33 ERA and struck out 235 in 219 innings with the Twins last season. That type of performance in the National League would figure to translate to even better numbers, and give the Mets an ace in the prime of his career. Santana's addition should also take a load off the team's bullpen, which might have been even more overused in 2008 with the departure of Tom Glavine, who logged 200-1/3 innings last season.

The last Cy Young Award winner the Mets obtained from the Twins was Frank Viola, whom they acquired on July 31, 1989, for Rick Aguilera, Kevin Tapani, David West, Tim Drummond and Jack Savage.

Humber, the third player taken in the 2004 draft from Rice, went 11-9 with a 4.27 ERA for Triple-A New Orleans and had a 7.71 ERA in three appearances with the Mets last year. Mulvey went 12-10 with a 3.21 ERA, primarily at Double-A Binghamton. Guerra, a 19-year-old with an advanced changeup, went 2-6 with a 4.01 ERA at Class-A St. Lucie. Gomez hit .232 and had 12 steals in 125 at-bats with the Mets and had his season shortened by a broken bone in his left hand.